The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-03-03


lead.
''Oh! lis you, is it9" said the Major, as he
gvt Of. None of your tricks this time,
mind. You remember what gave you the
last tire was mere, suppose, for hitting
the mare, don't youl''
"Ees,' replied the fellow, sulkily, 81 re-
member right enough
Very good; mind you don't do it again.
II catch you touching the mare this time,
I'll show you no mercy, you may depend on
It, Show the way. and I'll see the mare
done Up and fed before 90 into the house"
The man sul21ily obeyed, and when he had
seen Ciceiy comfortably done up for the
night and fed and patted afectionat ely, the
Major made his way through the kitchen
into the bar, where he found the landlord
andhis bu%om wife and pretty barmaid all
waiting 10 give him hearty welcome.
Wei, Major. now YOU have made your
old fayorite comfortable with your own
hands, you must let Us do you up right and
proper for the night, mustn't US. missis!'
said JacCo Shrub. as the Major at last made
his appearance from the stable.
Il wasn't going TO trust my mare to the
tender mercies of that cock-eyed rascal of
yours. you may depend answered the lat
ter. haven't forgotten catching him i'll
using her with p!tchfork when l was here
last, and III venture to say he hasn't for
gotten the taste OF nv horsewhip. l wonder
you keep the fellow about the place. added
ne
We'll SIR" replied Jacob, "to tell you
the truth / only keep him on out of kind
ness. ! did start him, after the thrashing
you gave him, and served him right, Major
but he begged so hard for forgiveness that
TOOK him or again, and he does a lot of
work, does cross eyed Dick, l can tell you,
Major. If ever he offends again though II
show MIN no mercy, you may depend, sir
NO, nor /, if he touches my mare" re
piled the Major, grasping his whip tightly
as he spoke. And now" continued ne,
''what have you got to eat in the house.
Jacob: I'm right hungry, can tell you,
and want something as quick as can have
it"
''Well, now" said the landlord, scratch
ing his head, that's okkar.i-very okkard,
that it is. Save cold mea., thsre's nothing
that you could have under th-ee-quarters of
an hour. But I'll tell yea what, Major,
there's 4 gentlcman-an army gentleman, l
fancy, like yourself-has got dinner just
going up to him in the Blue Room. Venison
soup. roast gosiin and damson tart to finish
up with-more than enough for two, Major
II you wouldn't mind joining Of him, I'll
send up and ask him at once"
80, don't mind bit, if he don't" re-
piled the Major; son the contrary, shall
be very glad Of his company if he's a good
fellow; and if, as you think, he's soldier
like myself, so much the better, as we
can fight our battles DER again over our
wine. Don't lose any time then, Jacob, but
! i &.l1 ~.
shall lie happy, if it pleases him, to join him
at dinner" The message, duly delivered
by the landlord in person, the reply came
back that the stranger sent his compli-
ments, and would be only too pleased If the
Major would honor him with his company.
Major Brabazon. accordingly, was shown
up to the Blue Room, where the stranger
awaited him, and the dinner was ordered at
once.
Very agreeable it was, too, and very
agreeable was the stranger. 1t was hard to
say, indeed, which the Major liked best
Though not an army man, as the landlord
had surmised, the newcomer seemed TO have
been everywhere and seen every thing. A
more jovial companion, too, the Major had
never met. A game at piquet followed din |
ner, which ended in the Major raising a
bowl OF punch. A second followed and
third, and fourth. How the Major got to |
bed he never knew; but he woke up late the |
next morning with considerable headache, |
10 find that the stranger had mounted his |
horse and taken his departure some hours |
before.
Breakfast despatched, the Major followed |
suit, and ordered the mare round. And |
when he urged Cicely into a canter at the |
first bit of turf they came to he was sur
prised to find that his favorite went remark
ably short. Re had never known her so dull |
and faded as she now appeared.
She did nothing, either, yesterday" NUT
tered the Major ''IwOnder what the reason
is. Confound that cOck-eyed hostler OF
Jacobs! If thought he had been playing
any tricks on her I'd go back this minute
and break every bone in his body" ;:
1t was market-day at Plumperton, just a
week after Major BrabaZOns sojourn for
he night at the WheatsLeaf Inn. and the
own of Plumperton was apparently in a
great state of excitement about something
Or anOther-it seemed quite turned upside
Down in fact. Business was apparently
The magnates of the town in
twos and threes, and all looking extremely
sol emn, were dotted about the High street
in little groups. Farmers and their wives
were gathered together at each street
corner aud in the market-place one and all
ooking as glum as could be and one and
al talking on the same subject, which,
udging from the scraps of conversation to
&c heard as one passed by one of the assem-
Dled groups. was none other than Major
and his white-faced mare.
''I'Il never believe it of him. never, not if
he was hung in chains ten times overr' ex-
'laimed one buXcm farmers wife with tears
Il her eyes.
No; nor me neither" said another
But. bless you, they'll never think of hang
ug the Major, no matter what he did. ANY
ne else they might, but never the Major"
Its pity ne hadn't another nag when
Re robbed I coarch." observed a young
armer. It's tina, mare Cicely and that
blessed white face of hern that's done tho
fajOr."
go along wi thee. struck in the country
anne, Indignantly. $50 along wi thee.
large; any one to hear, zee talk, would think
he Major was guilty like, instead of as )
lnocent as blessed unborn babe"
What could ali this mean!
Simply this: that a week ago-the very
light, in fact, that Major Brabazon stayed
{ the Wheatsheaf-the London mail coach |
as stopped on the borders of Hangman's |
Ieath by a Single highwayman, and the
assengers robbed and the guard shot dead
Highway robberies perpetrated by gentle
len of the read were at that period of such :
veryday occurrence that no one took much
office of this particular robbery, and two
avs afterward it was as good as forgotten :
Y the Plumperton folk. But when. on the =
worn information of Timothy Trap, a :
ondon bagman, one of the passengers
)boed, a warrant was granted for the ap-
rehension of Major Brabazon. in cnnse-